Barn Notes: Saturday, August 19, 2017

Leading into the Grade I Beverly D. at Arlington International Racecourse last Saturday, all eyes were on a mare from Argentina to see if she could best the top turf females in the United States. It took another runner from South America to do so, coming in the form of Sheep Pond Partners and Bradley Thoroughbreds’ Dacita (CHI). Coming into the race as the third-arm of trainer Chad Brown’s filly and mare triad, which also included Juddmonte Farm’s Grand Jete and Lael Stables’ Rainha Da Bateria, the 6-year-old daughter of prolific sire Scat Daddy returned to her winning ways under rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. and gave Brown his fourth victory in the stakes.

“That was some run,” said owner Peter Bradley in the days following the win. “She’s not the easiest to train, mentally, and she has had some hoof issues, but I’d say that was the best race of her career. She makes it look easier than it probably is.”

Dacita was making just her third start of the year in the Beverly D. after beginning her season in May by finishing second in the Grade III Beaugay Stakes at Belmont Park. It would be the first of two defeats for Dacita by the speedy Hawksmoor (IRE), the second coming in the Grade II New York Stakes a month later. On Aug. 12 Dacita was able to turn the tables on her competitor, who finished seventh in the Beverly D.

“She was ready to run probably a little earlier than the Beaugay but we wanted to take our time with her,” said Bradley. “The track wasn’t to her liking; she hates the soft going, but she still gutted it out. [In the New York] she lost three lengths at the break and still finished well despite there not being much pace.”

For Bradley, it was an impressive performance that reminded him of her results in Chile, which had spurred the bloodstock agent turned racing partner to purchase Dacita and bring her to North America.

“Fernando Diaz-Valdez, who works closely for Don Alberto Stable now, pointed her out to me,” said Bradley. “She set four track records as a 3-year-old in South America. Her turn of foot was on display down there, and certainly was a factor in my decision to purchase her.”

“Now that we have the ‘Win and You’re In’ our sights are set on Breeders’ Cup,” added Bradley.

With her victory in the Beverly D. Dacita earned an automatic entry to the Grade I $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 4. The race distance has been adjusted to nine furlongs for the seaside oval; it had previously been run at 10 furlongs at Santa Anita Park in 2016 and at 1 3/16-miles in 2015 at Keeneland. That should not be a concern for the Chilean-bred mare as she boasts a win over the 1 1/8-miles distance from her victory in the Grade I Diana at Saratoga last summer.